Business
the heart is Home Is Where
We hear the stories behind three unique and dreamy home clinics
F
orgoing a commercial space doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style or function. We’ve come across some divine home
clinics recently and wanted to share the stories behind them, their owners, and their style inspiration. Perhaps they can inspire you, too!
The Little Beauty Room By Bronte
products. Right now I’m waiting on a lovely new velvet armchair in the exact colour of my logo and I will tweak the space when I bring in the next product range. I love how it evolves and changes, it keeps it interesting for both me and my clients. Clients are always greeted by my rambunctious dachshund Otto. He has a very inflated opinion of himself but would love them to death if I’d let him.
In operation: 3 years Specialities: Skin, facials, lash lifts, brows
Why home vs commercial? It was an easy fit with young children. When the kids started school and I wanted to return to the industry, I knew it would be difficult to find a job accommodating the hours I wanted. I also wanted to start my own business but be a solo operator – home based was a logical decision. Working for salons before going out on your own is invaluable, you learn so much from working with other therapists, I loved my time in salons and did that for seven years. I have found social media and numerous online groups to be essential both in staying social and updating knowledge.
How do you separate work and home? This was a major fear in the beginning. But I can honestly say when I finish for the day and set up for the next, I close the door and don’t think about it. I have learnt to allocate time during the week to focus on admin, so unless I’m filling an order for a client, I have a break when that door closes. Having online bookings is an amazing time-saver as well. In the early days I was taking bookings via text and it overwhelms you. I also have a very supportive husband that helps me every step of the way. His handyman skills have certainly improved but his cooking needs some improvements!
How did you get started? I had been out of the industry for a few years when I started from scratch. This was a sobering way of re-entering. I knew what I wanted to achieve and took baby steps to begin with, and over time my client list has grown. I found early on that word of mouth was my best advertising. I think in the beginning you doubt yourself as you don’t have passing-by trade and you’re not as visible as a shop-front, but patience paid off.
Essentials you had to invest in? In the beginning I kept it very simple - a salon bed, wax pots/tints, and nails too. Over time I saved and invested in skin products. I worked out I only wanted to offer what I was truly passionate about, so I dropped some services and it has become a more focused business. An electric bed was a great 34 | SPA+CLINIC
The Little Beauty Room By Bronte
investment, it’s saved my back. I have always wanted to save up to purchase goods rather than having large loans for equipment. Next will be LED and skin needling. I also love upskilling and increasing my knowledge, I don’t think you can grow as a business if you don’t increase your knowledge/skills.
Favourite thing about your clinic? There are many! As the name suggests it is little, but I love that it’s warm and inviting. I bought an abstract painting of a girl that I love as it picks up the colours of my logo and
Crème Skin & Beauty Lounge In operation: 2 years Specialties: Skin treatments, brows, lash lifts
Why home vs commercial? I’d been toying with the idea of a home based salon for a while, I was offering a mobile service as well as driving quite a distance to a job/salon I didn’t love and was coming home frustrated and tired of driving. The salon I was working in was sold to people who didn’t have an ethos that aligned with mine, and I could see that clients I’d been taking care of were suffering because